Trott century boosts Lions

Jonathan Trott completed his first century back in England colours, since the onset of his stress-related illness, as the Lions secured a hard-earned lead over South Africa A in Paarl.

Lions captain Trott (176no), who ended last summer with back-to-back LV= County Championship hundreds for Warwickshire, confirmed his return to form with a third successive three-figure score in first-class cricket.

He was not satisfied merely by that, though, and was unbeaten at stumps after almost nine and a quarter hours and 14 fours from 350 balls faced – out of 507 for six in reply to 504 for eight declared.

The South Africa-born triple-Ashes winner has not played for his adopted country since having to leave the 2013/14 tour of Australia after the opening Test in Brisbane, where England suffered the first of five successive defeats.

But Trott was well enough to return for his county last season and was chosen to lead the Lions on the back of his very good run of form.

He resumed on 57 on day three of four in this first unofficial Test, continuing his fourth-wicket stand with Vince.

The Hampshire youngster passed his half-century, and had hit 12 fours from 171 balls in a partnership of 165 when he edged to slip off home captain Rory Kleinveldt (four for 100).

Bairstow then hit seven fours and a six in a typically bristling 50 before being bowled by Kleinveldt, and his Yorkshire team-mate Rashid found the boundary 12 times from 105 balls.

Rashid was eventually bowled by Ryan McLaren. But at the scene of his first-class debut 15 years ago there was no shifting Trott, who remained unbeaten alongside another Yorkshire Lion Liam Plunkett (31no).